Not to be confused with other similarly titled discs, this 2006 collection presents 20 tracks by the iconic Hollywood performer Judy Garland. Drawing from her decade-long stint with Capitol Records (1955-'65), the compilation features many of Garland's undisputed classics, including the vibrant "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart," the breezy "Come Rain or Come Shine," and the swaying "Hello Bluebird," all of which showcase her bold, expressive voice. Closing with a stirring live rendition of "Over the Rainbow," ESSENTIAL stands out as one of the finest era-specific Garland anthologies available, and perfectly complements THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION (also released in '06), a set of '30s and '40s songs.